Means for inducing the flow of material through a storage tank or the like



D. BARG'IERI Aug. 25,- 1970 v I 3,525,445

MEANS FOR moucme THE FLOW OF MATERIAL THROUGH Y A STORAGE TANK OR THE'LIKE Filed July 22. 1968 can? I Mum/roe 1404 0 D. 54265? 59 5M United States Patent "Ice US. Cl. 214-17 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A means for inducing the flow of material through a storage tank or the like having a material inlet opening at its upper end and a material discharge opening at its lower end comprising a plurality of normally fiat, inflatable members in the storage area which normally extend downwardly along the interior wall of the tank. The inflation of the inflatable members causes the members to move inwardly in the tank and away from the wall thereof to dislodge any material sticking therein so that the material will flow from the material discharge opening at the lower end of the tank.

Manufacturers of soybean meal have long been plagued with the problem of the meal sticking in the storage tanks thereby preventing the free flowing of the meal therethrough. The meal is usually extremely hot when deposited in the storage tank and such temperature is perhaps the major cause of the meal sticking therein. Attempts have been made to cool the meal before placing the same in the tanks but such a step is extremely expensive and time consuming. Attempts have also been made to solve the sticking problem by adding pellet coat to the meal but such attempts have been generally unsuccessful. The procedure which is usually followed when the sticking problem is encountered is to shut down the plant operations and to place a man in the tank to loosen the meal with a shovel or the like. Obviously, such a procedure is ineflicient and is extremely dangerous.

Therefore, it is a principal object of this invention to provide a means for inducing the flow of material through a storage tank or the like.

A further object of this invention is to provide a means for inducing the flow of material through a storage tank which includes inflatable hose members.

A further object of this invention is to provide a means for inducing the flow of material through a storage tank or the like including a plate means at the lower ends of a plurality of inflatable hoses positioned in the tank.

A further object of this invention is to provide a means for inducing the flow of material through a storage tank which may be remotely operated.

A further object of this invention is to provide a means for inducing the flow of material through a storage tank which is economical of manufacture, and durable in use.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

This invention consists in the construction, arrangements, and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, specifically pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a storage tank utilizing the instant invention with portions thereof cut away to more fully illustrate the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view as seen along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view as seen along lines 33 of FIG. 2.;

3,525,445 Patented Aug. 25, 1970 FIG. 4 is a sectional view as seen along lines 44 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic view illustrating the manner in which the arrows are connected to the source of air pressure.

The numeral 10 generally designates a material container such as a cylindrical storage tank having an upper end 11 and lower end 13. Tank 10 includes a vertical wall 15 and an inclined bottom 17 extending downwardly and inwardly from the lower end of wall 15 to approximately a 45 degree angle thereto. Tank 10 is provided with an inlet opening 19 at its upper end and a dis charge opening 21 at its lower end. The drawings illustrate tank 10 being supported by a plurality of legs 23 extending downwardly therefrom but it should be understood that tank 10 may be supported in any suitable manner.

A plurality of spaced apart flat inflatable hoses 25 are secured at their upper ends .27 to the upper interior of a tank 10 by any convenient means and extend downwardly therefrom in a spiral fashion along the interior surface of wall 15 and bottom 17 as illustrated in FIG. 2. The lower end of each of the hoses 25 are sealed and have a flat, substantially square metal plate 29 secured thereto by a clamp 31 or other suitable means.

A bolt means 33 slidably extends through the wall 15 and embraces the hose 25 associated therewith as illustrated in FIG. 4. A roller 35 engages the hose 25 and maintains the hose 25 in operative engagement with the bolt means 33. A spring means 37 is mounted on each of the bolt members 34 and 36 comprising bolt means 33 to yieldably maintain the roller 35 against the hose 25 so that the hose 25 is maintained in a flat condition against the interior surface of wall 15.

The upper ends of the hoses 25 are connected to a two-way valve 39 which is connected to a suitable source of air pressure such as compressor 40. Valve 39 is adapted to cause the inflation of the hoses 25 at times or to cause the deflation of the same by exhausting the air therefrom. As seen in FIG. 5, valve 39 is connected to each of the hoses 25 and is also adapted to exhaust the air therefrom at times.

Normally, the hoses are in a deflated or flat condition against the interior surface of the wall 15 and bottom 17 as the material passes through or is placed into the tank 10. If the material sticks or hangs in the tank 10, the valve 39 is operated to inflate the hoses 25. The inflation of the hoses 25 causes them to assume the straight position illustrated in FIG. 1. The hoses 25 straighten out due to the rigid connection of their upper ends with the tank 10 and the fact that the plates 29 engage the bottom 17. The hoses 25 expand from their flattened condition and assume the straight position and dislodge the material sticking in the tank 10 as the hoses move outwardly therefrom. The plates 29 also move with respect to the bottom 17 towards the discharge opening 21 thereby dislodging the sticking material and moving the same towards the opening 21. When the air is exhausted from the hoses 25 by valve 39, the weight of the material in the tank 10 and the springs 37 return the hoses to their flattened condition against the interior surface of the wall 15 and bottom 17. Thus, the expansion and straightening of the hoses 25 causes the material to freely flow from the tank 10 and may be intermittently operated as required. The particular arrangement of the hoses 25 disclosed herein has been found to be the most effective arrangement of the hoses since the inflation thereof causes the material to efficiently flow from the tank 10 in a spiral pattern. Thus it can be seen that the device accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device of the class described,

a material container having an upstanding wall portion with upper and lower ends, said container having an inclined bottom, extending downwardly and inwardly from the lower end of said upstanding wall portion, said bottom having a discharge opening means provided therein,

a plurality of elongated inflatable members positioned around the periphery of said container having an inflated volume substantially less than the volume of said container, having an inflated volume slightly greater than the deflated volume, and having upper and lower ends,

means securing said members within said container so as to cause said members when deflated to normally extend downwardly along said wall portion and said bottom in a substantially parallel relationship thereto,

said members being in communication with a source of air pressure adapted to inflate said members at times causing said members to rigidity and penetrate the material within said container so as to move away from said wall portion and said bottom thereby causing said material to flow out of the discharge opening.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein a first means is secured to said members to normally maintain said members in said substantially parallel relationship with said wall portion and said bottom.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein said first means consists of a spring loaded bolt means connected .to said members.

4. The structure of claim 1 wherein the upper ends of said inflatable members are connected to a valve means adapted to cause the inflation and deflation of said members.

5. The structure of claim 1 wherein said wall portion is vertically disposed and said bottom extends downward- 1y therefrom at approximately 45 degrees.

6. The structure of claim 1 wherein said container is cylindrical and wherein said members extend downwardly along the interior of said wall portion in a spiral like fashion.

7. The structure of claim 1 wherein a plate means is secured to the lower end of each of said members.

*8. The structure of claim 7 wherein said plate means is a flat, metal, substantially square plate.

9. The structure of claim 1 wherein said inflatable members are each comprised of a normally flat hose.

10. The structure of claim 9' wherein said first means consists of a spring loaded bolt means with a roller element rotatably mounted on said bolt means to rotatably engage said hoses, said bolt means and said roller element normally acting to hold said hoses against the wall portion of said material container.

11. The structure of claim 1 wherein a second securing means is connected to the upper end of said members.

12. The structure of claim 1 wherein the lower end of each of said members terminates closely adjacent said discharge opening when said member is inflated.

13. In a device of the class described,

a material container having an upstanding wall portion with upper and lower ends, said container having an inclined bottom extending downwardly and inwardly from the lower end of said upstanding wall portion, said bottom having a discharge opening means provided therein,

a plurality of inflatable members in said container and having upper and lower ends,

a spring loaded bolt means connected to and securing said members to normally maintain said members in a substantially parallel relationship with said wall portion and bottom portion wherein said wall portion and said bottom portion when deflated,

said members being in communication with a source of air pressure adapted to inflate said members at times to cause said members to move away from said wall portion and said bottom portion causing material to flow out of the discharge opening.

14. In a device of the class described,

a material container having an upstanding wall portion with upper and lower ends, said container having an inclined bottom extending downwardly and inwardly from the lower end of said upstanding wall portion, said bottom having a discharge opening means provided therein,

a plurality of inflatable members in said container and having upper and lower ends,

said members being secured to said upstanding wall portion and normally extending downwardly along said Wall portion and said bottom portion substantially parallel thereto when deflated,

a first means secured to said members to normally maintain said members in said substantially parallel relationship with said wall portion and said bottom wherein said first means consists of a spring loaded bolt means with a roller element rotatably mounted on said bolt means to rotatably engage said members, said bolt means and said roller element normally acting to hold said members against the wall portion of said material container,

said members being in communication with a source of air pressure adapted to inflate said members at times to cause said members to move away from said wall portion and said bottom causing material to flow out of the discharge opening.

15. The structure of claim 14 wherein said inflatable members are each comprised of a normally flat hose.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,956,839 10/1960 Hermanns 21417 X 3,121,500 2/1964 Langen 21417 ROBERT G. SHERIDAN, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 222203 

